1 UNIT 13 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS UNIT 13 Session 3 PRESCHOOL Session Title: Elisha and Naaman Bible Passage: 2 Kings 5 Main Point: God healed Naaman. Key Passage: Long ago God spoke... by the prophets ...In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. Hebrews 1:1-2 Big Picture Question: How many gods are there? There is one true God. BIBLE STUDY Everyone gets sick at some point in his or her lifetime … often many times! Illness is probably no stranger to the kids you teach. In today’s Bible story, Naaman—a commander for the Syrian army—was really sick. He had leprosy, a skin disease that was likely disfiguring and isolating. Without a cure, Naaman would face great suffering. But help came from an unlikely source: a young slave girl. The people of Israel and Syria were often at odds with one another. The Syrians sometimes attacked the cities in Israel and plundered them. They took what they wanted, including people to work as slaves. The young slave girl who served Naaman’s wife had been taken from her home in Israel. As an Israelite, the girl knew about the one true God. She was familiar with God’s prophets, including Elisha, who had performed miracles to help and heal people. The girl told her mistress that Elisha the prophet could heal Naaman. So the king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel, asking him to cure Naaman of his leprosy. But the king of Israel had no power to heal Naaman. The power to heal comes only from God. Elisha called for Naaman. But what happened next was not at all what Naaman expected. Naaman expected Elisha to call upon the name of God, wave his hand over Naaman, and miraculously heal him. Instead, Elisha instructed Naaman to go wash in the river. Naaman was upset! He could have washed in a river back home! But Naaman’s servants urged him to wash. He did, and God healed him. Not all sick people will be healed on this side of heaven, but our physical maladies are symptoms of an even greater illness—sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection provided healing—forgiveness and eternal life—for those who trust in Him. SUGGESTED THEME DECORATING IDEAS: Simulate a science lab, complete with beakers filled with different colored liquids and specimens. Position a dry erase board at the front of the room with lots of chemical equations. You may also choose to display the theme background slide.
Transcript
1 UNIT 13 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS
UNIT 13 Session 3PRESCHOOL
Session Title: Elisha and Naaman
Bible Passage: 2 Kings 5
Main Point: God healed Naaman.
Key Passage: Long ago God spoke... by the prophets ...In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. Hebrews 1:1-2
Big Picture Question: How many gods are there? There is one true God.
BIBLE STUDYEveryone gets sick at some point in his or her lifetime … often many times! Illness is probably no stranger to the kids you teach. In today’s Bible story, Naaman—a commander for the Syrian army—was really sick. He had leprosy, a skin disease that was likely disfiguring and isolating. Without a cure, Naaman would face great suffering. But help came from an unlikely source: a young slave girl.
The people of Israel and Syria were often at odds with one another. The Syrians sometimes attacked the cities in Israel and plundered them. They took what they wanted, including people to work as slaves.
The young slave girl who served Naaman’s wife had been taken from her home in Israel.
As an Israelite, the girl knew about the one true God. She was familiar with God’s prophets, including Elisha, who had performed miracles to help and heal people. The girl told her mistress that Elisha the prophet could heal Naaman. So the king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel, asking him to cure Naaman of his leprosy. But the king of Israel had no power to heal Naaman. The power to heal comes only from God.
Elisha called for Naaman. But what happened next was not at all what Naaman expected. Naaman expected Elisha to call upon the name of God, wave his hand over Naaman, and miraculously heal him. Instead, Elisha instructed Naaman to go wash in the river.
Naaman was upset! He could have washed in a river back home! But Naaman’s servants urged him to wash. He did, and God healed him.
Not all sick people will be healed on this side of heaven, but our physical maladies are symptoms of an even greater illness—sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection provided healing—forgiveness and eternal life—for those who trust in Him.
SUGGESTED THEME DECORATING IDEAS: Simulate a science lab, complete with beakers filled with different colored liquids and specimens. Position a dry erase board at the front of the room with lots of chemical equations. You may also choose to display the theme background slide.
2 UNIT 13 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS
UNIT 13 Session 3PRESCHOOL
Session Title: Elisha and Naaman
Bible Passage: 2 Kings 5
Main Point: God healed Naaman.
Key Passage: Long ago God spoke... by the prophets ...In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. Hebrews 1:1-2
Big Picture Question: How many gods are there? There is one true God.
KEY PASSAGE SONGPlay the Key Passage song as your kids arrive.
WORSHIPWorship leaders sing two songs with the children and collect offering.
INTRODUCE THE SESSION (3 MINUTES) [Large Group Leader enters wearing a white lab coat and carrying a clipboard and pencil.]Leader • Hello, everyone! Welcome back to our science lab. I am so glad you have joined us today!
As scientists, we have been looking for evidence that helps us learn about the one true God. We’ve been reading God’s Word to help us find clues about His great power and glory.
You know, we can learn so much by studying the Bible and by studying God’s incredible creation. But even science can’t explain everything. God has power over all that He has made, and sometimes He performs miracles that defy explanation. Can you think of any stories in the Bible about a time when God performed a miracle? [Allow kids to respond.]
Today we will hear a story about a miracle that God performed to heal a man who was very sick. Miracles are evidence of God’s great power. He shows that He is the one true God who alone deserves worship. No one is greater than God!
WATCH THE BIBLE STORY (10 MINUTES)Say • Every story in the Bible happened in real life. The Bible has God’s true words in it. Today’s Bible
story is from the Book of 2 Kings.Show the Bible story video “Elisha and Naaman,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.
OPTIONAL BIBLE STORY SCRIPT
Elisha and Naaman2 Kings 5
Naaman (NAY muhn) was an important man. Naaman was the leader of the army from Syria. Sometimes Naaman and the army attacked the cities of Israel. God’s people lived in Israel. Naaman and the army took things that did not belong to them. They even took people to work for them as servants. Naaman was a strong leader, but he was sick. He had a problem with his skin.
A young girl from Israel had been taken by Naaman’s army, and she worked as a servant for Naaman’s wife. When the girl heard that Naaman was sick, she said, “I know a man in Israel who can make Naaman better.”
Naaman wanted to get better! He went to see the king of Israel. But the king of Israel could not help Naaman.
“I am not God,” the king said. “I cannot make sick people well. Only God can do that.”Elisha the prophet heard about Naaman, and he invited Naaman to his house. Naaman went
to Elisha’s house. He was ready to be healed! Naaman thought Elisha would come and wave his
• Key Passage song “Speaking to Us”
• Bible Story Video “Elisha and Naaman” video• Bible Story Picture Slide• Bible
PROPS• lab coat• glasses• clipboard• pencil
• Theme Slide
3 UNIT 13 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS
hand over Naaman’s skin to heal him, but that is not what happened.Elisha sent someone to tell Naaman what to do. “Go wash seven times in the Jordan River.”
Wash in the river? Naaman said, “I could have washed in the rivers near my home. Did I travel all this way for nothing?”
Naaman felt angry, but his servants asked him to do what Elisha said. So Naaman went to the river. He dipped himself into the river seven times. Then Naaman’s skin was all better!
Naaman went back to Elisha. He said, “I know your God is the one true God.”
Christ Connection: Naaman was sick. He had a problem with his skin. When Naaman washed in the river, his skin got better. We are all sick with a sin problem. No one can obey God all the time. When we trust in Jesus, He heals us. God forgives us and makes us well.
TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY (1 MINUTE)Say • Elisha gave Naaman what must have sounded like silly instructions, but when Naaman did
what Elisha said, God healed Naaman. We are all sick with a sin problem that leads to death. No one can obey God all the time. When we trust in Jesus, He heals us. God forgives us and makes us well.
Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline or big story circle as you ask the following review questions:
1. What kind of problem did Naaman have? (a problem with his skin) 2. Why did the king of Israel say he could not make Naaman well? (Only God can make sick
people well.) 3. Did Naaman want to do what Elisha said? (No, he was angry.) 4. What happened when Naaman obeyed Elisha’s instructions? (God healed Naaman.) 5. What did Naaman learn about God? (He is the one true God.)
BIG PICTURE QUESTION (1 MINUTE)Say • Our big picture question is How many gods are there? There is one true God. After God healed
Naaman, Naaman said, “I know your God is the one true God.” Only the one true God can make sick people well.
KEY PASSAGE (5 MINUTES)Open your Bible to Hebrews 1:1-2. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Speaking to Us.”say • Elisha was a prophet. Elisha told Naaman how to be
healed. We are sick with a sin problem that leads to death. God tells us how to be healed through Jesus.
PRAYER (2 MINUTES)Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups.
DISMISS TO SMALL GROUP
• Timeline Poster• Main Point Slide
• Big Picture question slides
• Key passage
4 UNIT 13 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS
UNIT 13 Session 3PRESCHOOL
Session Title: Elisha and Naaman
Bible Passage: 2 Kings 5
Main Point: God healed Naaman.
Key Passage: Long ago God spoke... by the prophets ...In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. Hebrews 1:1-2
Big Picture Question: How many gods are there? There is one true God.
Welcome children and set out a few favorite theme-related toys, such as puzzles and blocks.
ACTIVITY (10 MINUTES) PLAY OUT VISITING THE DOCTOR Set out toy doctor kits. Invite preschoolers to play out being sick and going to the doctor or taking a sick baby to the doctor. Say • When we are sick, we go to the doctor for help. In our Bible story today, an important man
named Naaman was sick. No doctor could help him. Naaman went to Israel to get help that only God could provide. Let’s find out what happened.
10 minutes after the start of service
Break into groups of 10 or less children for Small group
• toy doctor kits• baby dolls
ACTIVITY (10 MINUTES) MAKE A NAAMAN PUPPET Provide a “Naaman” printable for each preschooler. Invite preschoolers to color one Naaman with a skin disease and one healed Naaman.
Assist preschoolers in cutting out their paper Naamans and gluing them back to back with a craft stick in between. Cut a hole in the bottom of a blue plastic cup. Demonstrate how to push the craft stick through the hole and use it as a handle to move Naaman in and out of the “water.”
Lead preschoolers to play out Naaman dipping in the water seven times with their puppets, turning Naaman to the healed side after the seventh dip.Say • Naaman felt angry about Elisha’s instructions, but he obeyed. God healed Naaman. We are all
sick with a sin problem. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to take the punishment for sin. The only way we can be forgiven and healed of our sin problem is to trust in Jesus.
SNACK TIMEGather preschoolers for snack time. Thank God for the snack. Remind preschoolers that Elisha told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was angry at Elisha’s simple instructions, but when he obeyed, God healed Naaman. Naaman learned that there is one true God. Naaman went back to Elisha and said, “I know your God is the one true God.”
TRANSITION When a child finishes his snack, guide him to throw away any trash. He may select a book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with toys, or color the Journal coloring page.
• “Naaman” printables, 1 per child• markers or crayons• blunt-tipped scissors• glue• craft sticks• blue plastic cups
5 UNIT 13 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS
Elisha and Naaman2 Kings 5
Naaman (NAY muhn) was an important man. Naaman was the leader of the army from Syria. Sometimes Naaman and the army attacked the cities of Israel. God’s people lived in Israel. Naaman and the army took things that did not belong to them. They even took people to work for them as servants. Naaman was a strong leader, but he was sick. He had a problem with his skin.
A young girl from Israel had been taken by Naaman’s army, and she worked as a servant for Naaman’s wife. When the girl heard that Naaman was sick, she said, “I know a man in Israel who can make Naaman better.”
Naaman wanted to get better! He went to see the king of Israel. But the king of Israel could not help Naaman.“I am not God,” the king said. “I cannot make sick people well. Only God can do that.”Elisha the prophet heard about Naaman, and he invited Naaman to his house. Naaman went to Elisha’s house.
He was ready to be healed! Naaman thought Elisha would come and wave his hand over Naaman’s skin to heal him, but that is not what happened.
Elisha sent someone to tell Naaman what to do. “Go wash seven times in the Jordan River.” Wash in the river? Naaman said, “I could have washed in the rivers near my home. Did I travel all this way for nothing?”
Naaman felt angry, but his servants asked him to do what Elisha said. So Naaman went to the river. He dipped himself into the river seven times. Then Naaman’s skin was all better!
Naaman went back to Elisha. He said, “I know your God is the one true God.”
Christ Connection: Naaman was sick. He had a problem with his skin. When Naaman washed in the river, his skin got better. We are all sick with a sin problem. No one can obey God all the time. When we trust in Jesus, He heals us. God forgives us and makes us well.
JOURNAL PAGEOffer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of themselves at a time when they
were sick. Remind preschoolers that God healed them of their sickness and God will also heal them of their sin problem and forgive them when they trust in Jesus. Pray for the children.
PRAYSay • God, we are sick with a sin problem. We cannot obey You all the time. Thank You that when
we trust in Your Son, Jesus, You forgive us of our sin and make us well. Thank You for loving us so much. Amen.
THE GOSPEL: GOD’S PLAN FOR MEUse Scripture and the guide provided in the classroom to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, leader, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian.
• crayons• Journal Page
While preschoolers might not be ready to respond to the gospel, use this guide to help little minds begin to grasp big truths about Jesus and the kingdom of God.
GOD IS KING.Ask: “Who is in charge at home? Who is in charge over the whole world?” Explain that God made everything! He is King over everything, and He is in charge.
WE SINNED.Ask: “Have you ever done something wrong?” Tell preschoolers that everyone sins, or disobeys God. Our sin makes God sad.
GOD SENT JESUS.Explain that God must punish sin. He loves us and He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus came to take away the punishment for sin.
JESUS LOVES.Ask: “Do you like presents?” Explain that Jesus gives us the best present. He never did anything wrong, but He was punished in our place. Jesus wants to take away our sin because He loves us.
Pray that God will save your preschoolers. As you faithfully teach the Bible, you are planting gospel seeds in children’s hearts. Ask God to grow the preschoolers into children who love and trust in Jesus.
